Agenda item

The Assistant Director for Planning:

1. described the details of the application to the property at 4 Limelands, Lincoln, proposing the demolition of the existing attached garage and the erection of a single story extension with integral double garage;

2. provided details of the policies pertaining to the application, as follows:

·         National Planning Policy Framework

·         Policy LP26 Design and Amenity

3. advised the Committee of the main issues to be considered as part of the application to assess the proposal with regards to:

·         Accordance with National and Local Planning Policy

·         Impact on Residential Amenity

·         Impact on Visual Amenity

·         Highway Safety, Access and Parking

·         Land Stability and Structural Investigations

·         Archaeology

·         Contamination

·         Trees

·         Other Matters

4. outlined the responses made to the consultation exercise;

5. concluded that the single storey extension and integral garage would not have an unduly harmful impact on the residential and visual amenity of neighbouring properties, in accordance with policy LP26 of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework.

Mr R Coy, a local resident, addressed the Planning Committee in objection to the application, making the following points:

·         The objector resided at 2 Eastwood House.

·         The objector referred to the historical layout of Limelands and Eastwood House.  It was highlighted that the bungalows, which included 4 Limelands, had been built nearest to Eastwood House, the houses further away behind the large screening trees in order to prevent any possibility of the new structures being overbearing or intrusive to the existing Eastwood House. 

·         The applicant had previously removed two of the large screening trees, which had resulted in the objector now being able to see the electricity substation and sewage pumps, which had previously been screened.  The removal of these trees had not impacted on the applicant’s view.

·         The objector referred to the timeline of applications made by the applicant from 2019 to the present time, which included a refused application for a two-storey dwelling in 2019 on the piece of land where the trees had been removed.

·         Concerns were raised that the current application could easily be converted by the applicant to create a separate dwelling, which had previously been refused by the Council.

·         Archaeological and contamination reports had not yet been submitted by the applicant, despite requests to do so.

The Committee discussed the content of the report and the following questions and comments were put forward:

·         Question: It was queried how human remains would be dealt with, should any be discovered onsite.

·         Answer: One of the conditions listed included a full set of archaeological conditions, which would include how archaeological remains would be dealt with, including human remains.  It was usually preferred for human remains to be kept onsite. However, this would be included within the report.

·         Comment: It was stated that the trees which had been removed by the applicant were not subject to a tree preservation order.

·         Answer: It was confirmed that the previously removed trees were not protected and therefore planning rules had not been breached.

·         Question: It was queried what the full set of contamination issues were, which was detailed on page 147 of the agenda pack.

·         Answer: These conditions were very detailed.  However, the Committee was assured that the conditions would require a contamination report to be completed.

·         Comment: The history of the site could not be taken into account and it was for the Planning Committee to consider the application put before it.  It was not for the Committee to consider the perceived intention behind the application. However, a condition could be applied that the extension should only be occupied for purposes ancillary to the residential use of the dwelling.  

It was moved, seconded and agreed that the potential condition 7 The extension approved shall only be occupied for purposes ancillary to the residential use of the dwelling be added to the list of conditions.

RESOLVED that the application planning permission be approved subject to the following conditions:

01) Works commence within three years

02) Accordance with approved plans

03) Details of all external materials

04) Full set of archaeological conditions

05) Full set of contamination conditions

06) Tree protection measures

07) The extension approved shall only be occupied for purposes ancillary to the residential use of the dwelling